Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

John Henry Robinson served twice in the South African (Boer) War, first as a Private (promoted to Farrier Sergeant) S.N. 190 in the 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry, and second as a Private S.N. 633in the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen (source AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 471 & 518).

John Henry Robinson served twice in the South African (Boer) War, first as a Private (promoted to Farrier Sergeant) S.N. 190 in the 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry, and second as a Private S.N. 633in the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen (source AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 471 & 518).

Report in the Brisbane Courier Newspaper 16 May 1902, p. 8, notes Private Robinson remained in South Africa for further service after the contingent returned to Australia. The dates for his return to Australia and discharge are unkown.

John Henry Robinson served twice in the South African (Boer) war. First service was as a Private rising to Farrier-Sergeant S.N. 190 in the 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry. Second service was as a Private S.N. 633 in the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen (1st Draft).

When he joined the 3rd QMI and his details were published with the rank and file in The Queenslander, 3 Mar 1900, it was noted he was married and from Stafford St, Paddington, Brisbane. In the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 3rd QMI, Bk 3 p. 79, it is noted he directed part of his pay to his wife Louise E. Robinson, Coronation St, Jubilee Estate, Paddington. He served the full rour of the 3rd QMI and was discharged in Brisbane in Jun 1901.

He then later joined again with the 1st Draft of the 6th QIB that embarked on 20 Aug 1901, some 4 months after the main 6th QIB had left. The men selected in the 1st Draft in the main consisted of men who had previously served in previous contingents in South Africa, and were being sent as reinforcements for the 5th and 6th QIB contingents already in South Africa.

The men in the draft were not entered on the original nominal roll of the 6th QIB. However, he was recorded in the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB (which he was allotted to), Bk 4 p. 71, where it was noted he directed part of his pay to his mother Agnes Robinson, Annie St, Torwood. Newspaper reports note when the 5th QIB returned to Australia a number of men remained in South Africa for various reasons including for further service.

Report in The Brisbane Courier, 16 May 1902, notes when the 5th QIB embarked to return to Australia that, S.N. 633, Private John H. Robinson remained in South Africa for further service. The Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 71, notes he was in fact invalided and applied for and was granted discharge in South Africa on 4 Mar 1902.

John Henry Robinson was born on 18 May 1878 at Chester, England, a son to William Robinson and Agnes Robinson (nee Gregg). It is unclear when the family migrated to Queensland but John would still have been a young child as his parents had more children in Qld from 1880. He married Louise Eleanor Elliott on 20 Dec 1899 in Queensland. It appears he married a second time to Laura Taylor, however a place and date could not be ascertained. 

When he passed in 1944 an obituary was published in The Telegraph, 6 Jun 1944. It noted his date and place of birth, and he was educated at Ithaca Creek State School. As a young adult he was a member of the Ithaca Fire Brigade, a keen footballer and professional cyclist. After the war he worked as a stockman on Terrica Station, had a blacksmith business on Sylvan Rd, Toowong, and eighteen months before his passing he began working for the US Army. When he passed it was reported he was survived by his wife and 3 daughters.

(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 471 & 518; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 3rd QMI, Bk 3 p. 79, and 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 71; Obituary: Late J. H. Robinson- The Telegraph (Brisb), 6 Jun 1944, p. 4).